it's been a long day [open]

[Rookpaw]

Rookkit dragged himself to the barn, dark blue eyes wide in curiosity as he tried to ignore the pain he was feeling. It looks like everyone else is here, he thought, noticing how dense the IceClan scent was. The tom himself had fallen behind the rest of clan during the avalanche. He had been on the wrong side of the Thunderpath, looking for anyone else that might need his help rather than getting himself out of danger. When the avalanche had finally caught up to him, he had taken shelter behind a rock to stay safe, although that didn't keep his pelt from getting throughly soaked through. He had spent the night wet and alone and too tired to move from his sanctuary behind the old, deteriorating boulder.

When the tom finally awoke his wounds had closed, a few beginning to blacken with signs of infection. His legs had multiple cuts on them from scraping past rocks and tripping a few times. His paw-pads ached with pain; they were kitten-soft before, meaning they were virtually useless on protecting him against the events of the previous day. Each one had been run raw and bloody, causing him to collapse a few times when he actually managed to pull himself to his feet. Yet, the injuries were something the tom could deal with--the only really noticeable one was a scar that ran across his muzzle. It had been caused by some sort of two-leg equipment that scrapped his muzzle when a monster roared past him while he was attempting to cross the Thunderpath. It still hadn't completely healed, and whenever a cold gust of wind blew by it stung.

Just a little further, Rookkit thought. He was sure he could scent cats nearby, despite the fact that the scent of blood pooled around his nose. Yet, rather than be pushed to move forward by the scent, it made him tired. The thought of being safe made him realize how exhausted he actually was. Black blotches began to dot his vision, and soon enough his tired muscles gave out and he collapsed onto the ground, passing out.

[Deleted]

Featherkit wondered around aimlessly, glad to not have a queen breathing down her back every second since the avalanche. She almost missed it though, since she had come to the barn she hadn't been noticed much, she had met the strange loner but it seemed as if she was just like badgerpaw and cheethpaw. Forgotten. She hadn't been to hurt and most of the damage was from the cats, not the avalanche. She had a twisted paw which ached every step she took, she was now convinced her rib had cracked and she noticed her side had claw marks digging into it, pretty deep too. A cat must have used her to propel themselves forward during the avalanche. She wasn't angry with them though, they didn't see her, that's all. She was still anxious about Rookkit's arrival, it wasn't really her problem but she still worried. She quickly caught the scent of something metallic, blood. She could smell Rookkit too. Fearing the worst she ran forward as fast as her injured paw would allow her to. Dodging past a low hanging tree she gasped as she saw Rookkit laying on the ground, most likely unconscious." Rookkit wake up!" She meowed worriedly as she gently nudged him in the shoulder. She quickly noticed how battered he was and quickly licked at the wound stretching across his muzzle, she was sure she had seen the medicine cat do this. He had to wake up, she was to small and weak from the avalanche to carry him back to the barn." You have to get up." She stated, louder this time.

[Darkpool]

(aaaannddd i come and ruin your teeny romance. bliss)
Darkpool had been sent on patrol. The pure black cat was limping along the border, fully convinced that her right forepaw would never heal. The medicine cat had told her that it would, but her eye wouldn't. Currently, that deep blue eye blazed with anger and helplessness as she sheathed and unsheathed her claws. She tried to convince herself that she had helped by getting Edgekit and Featherkit to safety, but she hadn't seen either of them at the barn yet, along with Rookkit and Snap-paw. The black she-cat flattened her ears and hissed as another round of pain shot up her forepaw, then carefully unfolded them as she heard some cat speak. Was it an IceClan cat? Darkpool sure hoped so. She was in no condition to fight. She limped forward, feeling like an Elder, then focused her one right eye on two kits. White and black. Featherkit and Rookkit? Yes! She hurried forward as she realised that Rookkit looked half-dead. "Featherkit, what happened to the little brat?" she asked, her deep voice echoing. "Dang it, I told him not to die!" she muttered, flicking her tail harshly.

[Deleted]

(not a romance lol that would be like two five year olds falling in love)
Featherkit was starting to panic now. No matter how many times she called his name and tried to wake him he just wouldn't budge. She had already convinced herself she would just have to drag him back to the barn, gripping his scruff in her mouth and being careful not to bite down to hard. She yelped in surprise as she heard a voice behind her and released his nape, falling onto her back in the process. She jumped up and leaped over the unconscious Rookkit, unsheathing her claws and hissing before she realized it was the she cat who carried her across the thunderpath. Sheathing her paws she smiled in relief." Its you!" She still couldn't remember the dark she cats name. Now that she looked at her she looked terrible.Her paw was lifted slightly, face contorted in pain and she noticed the she cat had something wrong with her eye. Featherkit almost laughed at her assumption, thinking about her own injuries. Her forepaw throbbed in pain and now that she looked blood had coated where a claw should have been. Her ribs still ached and her breathing was slow and ragged, every time she inhaled a sharp pain jutted up her chest. She hadn't groomed her fur since the avalanche and her mother was mourning badgerpaw so she wouldn't do it." I don't know, I found him like this." Featherkit replied slowly, her mind still jumbled. She moved away from the tom-kit, allowing the she cat to inspect him.

[Rookpaw]

Rookkit could hear a voice echoing throughout the back of his head, but is seemed distant and distorted as he he was hearing it through water. He tried to force his eyes open, but his eyelids felt like lead, and there was a deep-rooted pounding in his head that made it feel like his skull was pulsing. That voice sounds so familiar though, he thought, trying to place who it was. Another voice came, this one louder and more mature. And also familiar. ...Darkpoool? he thought, listening harder. He could tell it was female, at least he thought so in his dazed state, but it definately wasn't is mothers voice. The speaking started to become clearer as he ventured back into the world of the waking.

"-old him not to die!" defiantly Darkpool, he was positive now. And the other voice, it has to be Featherkit. Now that he was coming too he could feel a gentle ache in the back of his neck that hadn't been there before, like someone had tried to pick him up by the scruff. Must've been Featherkit, he thought, almost amused by the image of the younger she-kit trying to drag him yo CloudClan-knows where.

"Hey," he meowed, trying to grab the two's attention, although his voice came out dry and croaky instead of the smooth tone he usually had, woah, is that my voice? Man, I sound a lot sexier than I remember," he joked, trying to lighten the mood. he still ached everywhere, and he was far to tired to get up at the moment. His dark blue eyes finally fell into focus, andhe looked between the two she-cats with tired, bloodhot eyes. "What's up? You two look like someone died," he let a cheeky smile slip into his features, momentarily forgetting that yes, some cats did actually die.

Gathering all his strength, the black tom attempted to get onto his paws. He managed it for a few moments, his legs shaking like leaves and his paws burning like fire, before he collapsed back to the group and looked sheepishly at the two, trying his best to not wince and hide all the pain he was feeling.

[Darkpool]

Darkpool's eye filled with relief as Rookkit (paw?) let out a meow. It made her giddy, filling her with adrenaline and energy, along with anger. "Dang you, Rookkit! I thought you were dead! Never do that again, you little brat." she said, letting out a sigh and digging her claws into the ground. As the black tom fell, Darkpool let a small smile slip. "Whoa there, Sparky. Don't die on me." the warrior picked up the other cat gently by the scruff of his neck, then felt the world tilt. She quickly steadied herself and crouched to try a new tactic. "Ugh, I'm too weak. Uhm... what's your name again, sweetie?" she asked, blinking at Featherkit. "Well, whatever it is, can you tell me while pushed Rook here onto my back?"

[Deleted]

Featherkit smiled as she heard Rookkit(paw?) talking. She was so happy he wasn't dead, she didn't know if she could handle another death. She listened to the she cats words curiously, what was witch of the wilds? She would have to ask another time. She flinched and took a step forward as Rookkit tried to stand and quickly fell back down." Its Featherkit..... What was your name again?" She tilted her head, her voice getting higher at the end which she loathed, her voice was high enough as it is. She watched as the she cat crouched down beside him, she wasn't exactly sure how to do this." Sorry if this hurts." She stated sympathetically as she, again, grabbed his scruff and hauled him onto the she cats back. She was a little unsure the injured warrior could even carry him so she walked slowly by their side, placing her tail on Rookkit's back to steady him.

[Darkpool]

Darkpool glanced at the white kitten as she introduced herself. Featherkit. A fitting name. "Cool name. Mine's Darkpool." she said, swallowing back doubts that the cat would trust her. Ah well, no one in the Clan trusted her anymore. She didn't even trust herself. A heavy weight toppled onto her back and Darkpool stood up slowly, muscles complaining. Shut up, the black she-cat told them. Somehow, she managed to get to her full height, then began to half limp, half stagger back towards the temporary camp... at least, Dark sure hoped it was temporary. She already missed the curving slopes of the mountains and the fluffy feeling of snow. Wait... she didn't really miss the snow anymore. So the cat staggered forwards, hoping to reach 'camp' soon.

[Deleted]

" Nice to meet you." Featherkit mustered up a smile, it wasn't very real though. With all the things that had happened she hadn't genuinely felt like smiling. Featherkit winced as she placed her paw on the ground, she hadn't visited the medicine cat yet, she didn't really need to as much as the other cats, Darkpool included. She watched her surroundings nervously, she hadn't realize how far away they were from the barn." Do you think we will ever get back home." She mumbled to no one in particular, sadness evident in her voice. She stumbled slightly as she hit her paw against a small rock, hissing in pain and sitting down to groom it. A trickle of fresh blood dripped where her claw used to be and she sighed, stupid avalanche. She walked past a puddle, finally getting a view of her fur. It stuck out everywhere, most of it brushed the wrong way and causing an unbearable itch. Trying not to lag behind and keep Rookkit( paw or kit??) steady on Darkpool's back.

[Rookpaw]

gonna still be rookkit in this thread, since technically he got his apprentice ceremony after this thread takes place

"Me? Dead? Oh please, you can't get rid of me that easily," he purred, somewhat happy to find out that the she-cat had been worried about him. His eyes widened a bit when being put onto Darkpool's back became the plan. "Oh, whoa there, I'm sure I'm totally capable of--" he broke off into a bit of coughing, and black dots began to blot his vision for a few seconds before fading away as the coughing stopped, "okay, onto the back I go."

He looked over at Featherkit as she spoke. "Oh, do be gentle with me," he mewed sarcastically as he tilted his head to look the other kitten in the eye, a grin on his face. He laughed a bit after a few moments before speaking again, "just kidding. Don't worry, I'm sure I'll survive," he tried to help propel himself onto the large she-cat as Featherkit helped, although he wasn't sure of he made much of a difference. Once he was settled he wrapped his bruised tail around Darkpool with a wince, trying to keep his grip loose and only tightened it when he began to slip off.

The scent of fresh blood made Rookkit want to turn and look to see what happened to (presumably) Featherkit, since it didn't seem like Darkpool had any open wounds. "You okay?" the tom-kit mewed, feeling a bit awkward having to ask, "I smell blood."

[Darkpool]

Darkpool listened to Rookkit's sarcastic meows in an attempt to pull herself back together, though all she mostly heard was white noise. She almost shrieked when she accidentally stepped on a rock, but gritted her teeth and walked forward, forepaw now numb. She wasn't sure if that was a good thing, but it helped to keep her going. Eventually, something audible went into her ears and she glanced at Featherkit on her right. "Blood? Don't tell me I have to carry you, too." she managed, then squinted as she tried to focus her eye on something in front of her. It was big, and vaguely familiar. She stopped suddenly, peering at it. After a few seconds, she realised what it was and almost let out a whoop of joy. "The barn! We made it! I mean, of course we made it." Dark said, staggering to the entrance slowly. "Holy CloudClan, that was exhausting. And painful." she said, sinking to the ground and letting Rookkit slide off her back in front of the entrance. The black she-cat felt like laying there and never waking up, but she got to her paws, licking her forepaw and managing to dig out the stupid rock she had stepped on. "Hey Feather, do'yu mind getting some other cat to come carry Rook here? I honestly don't think I can make it any further." she admitted, slumping down onto her haunches and continually licking her paw.

[Deleted]

( Sorry, short)
She had managed somehow to ignore all of Rookkit's sarcastic remarks and continue to walk alongside them, her limp heavier then it had been before.
" I'm fine you guys, just a scratch." She felt kind of happy they asked, she felt like she mattered. She lifted her tail off Darkpool's back excitedly as she noticed the barn up ahead." We made it." She stated airily, sitting down to rest. She nervously looked around for a cat, accepting Darkpool's request. Honestly she had to wonder if anyone else would be able to help, all the strongest were most likely sent out to patrol and she didn't even think Robinstar could carry him and help Darkpool get back.
" If me and Darkpool both help, do you think you could walk?" She directed her question to Rookkit, begging CloudClan he could. She tiredly slumped onto the ground, resting her small chin on her fore paws. She wrinkled her muzzle as her nose touched the form of blood and she slowly began grooming, all of her energy drained.

[Rookpaw]

(sorry 'bout the late reply)

"Alrighty," Rookkit mewed in response to Featherkit, "just don't be afraid to ask for a break if you need one, we can't have the both of us keeling over, now can we? I don't think Darkpool's back could take it," the black apprentice chuckled a bit, although his head tipped curiously to the side when the older warrior mentioned something about a "barn". "What's a barn?" the tom-kit asked, confused. He figured it was probably where IceClan, or at least Darkpool, had been camping out since the avalanche. Had all the clan made it back safely? He knew there were a few deaths and plenty of injures, of course, but it was hard to think that so many chaotic cats had regrouped safely back together. IceClan scent is pretty distinct around here, he thought, as Darkpool sunk to the ground, I guess it isn't impossible for most of the clan to have found each other. Yet, with the realization that, yes, IceClan scent was rather distinct around here, the tom began to hope other cats hadn't found the IceClanners as well. After all, it was unlikely that the clan could survive an attack after a disaster like the avalanche.

"Maybe," Rookkit replied, gathering all his strength and rolling off Darkpool to give her some relief. His whole body stung for a few moments, and he waited it out with a grimace before continuing to speak, "I think we should all rest for a few moments though, before giving it a try."

[Deleted]

" I'll be fine." Featherkit shrugged nonchalantly. She was slightly amused she knew something more then the older tom-kit." Its something the two-legs made, that's what Robinstar said anyway. We're all making camp their until IceClan melts." She sat down, thankful for the break and let out a slow, ragged breath. Her ears flattened as everything sunk in, her home was gone. She shook her head as if to physically force the thought away and stood, shaking out her fur. " C'mon, who knows what else is out here. We should get back." She shuddered at the thought of a dozen eyes watching her, cat or not it freaked her out. Featherkit stood, feeling better from the break and walked next to Rookkit, resting her tail on his back to keep him steady and allowing him to lean on her. She hoped they could all make it back before it got dark.
Sniffing the air frequently she finally caught a whiff of the barn, it was closer then she had thought. " We're almost there, just a little further." She meowed encouragingly, picking up the pace slightly.

[Darkpool]

Darkpool's body shuddered as she got to her paws, flicking her long black tail and stretching, careful to stay off her forepaw. "Okay. Let's do this." she said confidently, limping forward to let Rookkit lean on her broad shoulder. The black she-cat placed her tail onto Rookkit's identical pelt and steadied him as Featherkit picked up the pace. She trotted forward, blatantly ignoring the red-hot pain in her paw. Who cares, right? It was a few moments before the three cats almost ran into the side of the barn. "Whoa, easy, easy. Let's go to the front." the warrior led the other cats to the front of the barn, then stopped out the front. "Feather, we're gonna take Rook to the Medicine Cat, and it should all be a piece of cake from there."